Pallekele,
Kandy Samp Army showcased a clinical performance, ending New York Superstar Strikers’ three-match winning streak with a five-wicket victory at the ongoing Legends Cricket Trophy held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (March 13). While Punjab Royals secured a six-wicket win over Delhi Devils in the first match of the day.
In pursuit of a target of 154 runs, Aaron Finch-led Samp Army achieved the goal in 14.2 overs, marking their second victory in the tournament. Key contributions from Kevin O’Brien and Chris Mpofu propelled Samp Army to success against the formidable Superstar Strikers.
Batting first, New York Superstar Strikers encountered a shaky start after opting to bat first, losing three wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Despite this, they managed to post a total of 153 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 90 balls.
In the earlier match of the day, Punjab Royals secured a comfortable six-wicket victory over Delhi Devils. Chasing a target of 134 runs, Punjab Royals achieved the target in 14.4 overs, with Tillakaratne Dilshan leading from the front with a captain’s knock of 59 runs.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Delhi Devils, led by captain Suresh Raina, failed to set a challenging total on the scoreboard. They could only manage to score 133 runs for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 90 balls.
In the chase, Dilshan led from the front, showcasing his leadership skills with a commanding knock of 59 runs off 36 balls, comprising of 11 boundaries. Despite losing partners such as Naman Ojha (15), Dwayne Smith (3), and Cameron White (10), Dilshan continued to play aggressively.
Brief Scores
Match 10:
Delhi Devils – 133/6 (90 balls) – Suresh Raina – 34 (27); Monty Panesar – 2/16
Punjab Royals – 136/4 (88 balls) – Tillakaratne Dilshan – 59 (36); Anureet Singh – 2/39
Match 11:
New York Superstar Strikers – 153/7 (90 balls) – Asela Gunaratne – 43 (20); Chris Mpofu – 3/33
Kandy Samp Army – 154/5 (86 balls) – Kevin O’Brien – 50* (34); Rahul Sharma – 2/26
